The threat of grasshoppers is a major concern for farmers who are worried about losing their crops.
A huge group of grasshoppers
Farmers living in Tinh An Commune, Son Tinh District, Quang Ngai Province, are coping with a major grasshopper threat.
On August 18, Nguyen Van Anh, Chairman of the Farmer Association of Tinh An Commune, Son Tinh District, Quang Ngai Province, reported that grasshoppers had destroyed over 25 hectares of crops there.
A huge group of grasshoppers is destroying corn, cassava and especially elephant grass which is used for cattle.
Vo Mai, living at Ngoc Thach Hamlet, Tinh An Commune, worried, “They destroyed all of my corn in just one night. We sprayed chemicals and used straw brooms to drive them away but it didn’t work because there are just too many grasshoppers.”
Although farmers use chemicals to protect their crops, they seem to be ineffective as the number of grasshoppers continues to grow.
These grasshoppers are spreading very quickly, threatening crop areas in other hamlets as well. Farmers are fearing the worst and desperate to do anything.
This grasshoppers issue began one month ago but the association has not reported the situation to higher authorities for further direction yet.
Prevention methods do not work